A Day in the Life of a Yukon Bush Pilot

The Yukon bush pilot. This unique job title may conjure up romantic images of tiny planes soaring around extremely rugged terrain. A career vastly different than flying jets for major airlines, bush flying might sound mysterious and exotic. But what is a day on the job actually like? I talked to my favorite Yukon bush pilot, Jeremy, to learn more about the behind-the-scenes details of flying in the Yukon.

Wakeup Call

It’s 5:30 AM. Jeremy rouses from deep sleep and stumbles into the shower. After a hurried breakfast, he is out the door. Since it’s the middle of summer in the Yukon, the sun has already risen (actually, it never really set). The mountains are awash in misty morning light. Jeremy drives into town to reach the airport, a thirty-minute commute from his quiet mountain valley home. Today, Jeremy is scheduled for an 8AM flight to the mine in Tungsten, Northwest Territories.

Preflight Preparations

When Jeremy arrives at the small bush plane airport, he first grabs a cup of coffee before changing into his dark blue flight suit. He then makes his way out to his airplane, a Cessna Caravan. He checks to make sure that the plane has enough oil and fuel for the journey, and that any cargo is properly balanced. The passengers, mine inspectors, board the plane. Jeremy puts on his headset and prepares for takeoff.

The flight

The flight to Tungsten takes about an hour and a half. Jeremy flies over beautiful mountain scenery, azure lakes and rivers, and carpets of pine trees. The Cessna Caravan is not pressurized like larger planes, meaning Jeremy can only fly as high as 9,500 feet. This allows him to enjoy his surroundings and even take pictures.

The Landing

As Jeremy nears Tungsten, he flies into a narrow valley between towering mountains. Out of all the remote locations he has flown to, this is his favorite. He enjoys the challenge of landing on a short, rugged airstrip in a scenic valley.

Part of the GPS system in Jeremy’s plane includes a terrain overlay map, shown in the below photo. This helps alert pilots to nearby mountain peaks.

A Day in Tungsten, Northwest Territories

The mine inspectors go off to do their business, leaving Jeremy with several hours to himself. Most pilots have to deal with lengthy layovers at some point. Major airline pilots may have to spend these layovers inside crowded, boring airports. Yukon bush pilots, on the other hand, get to hike, explore, and generally have a good time. Jeremy loves layovers in Tungsten because he gets to take a dip in the local thermal pools. He also plays squash inside the ghost town’s abandoned gymnasium, and the local mountains beg to be hiked.

After the inspectors are done for the day, Jeremy prepares the plane for its return home. Passengers and pilot board the plane and embark on their scenic return journey.

Q & A with a Yukon Bush Pilot

What is your favorite thing about being a bush pilot?

Seeing the scenery, the intricate beauty of God’s creation, and going into shorter and rugged airstrips.

What is the most unusual cargo you’ve ever had?

I remember with the DC-3 company someone had inquired about shipping reindeer on the planes. It didn’t end up happening, so the most unusual cargo would probably be a six-thousand pound generator in the DC-3.

Have you ever actually shipped live animals?

I don’t remember anything exotic, though my friend once had baby moose in his plane.

What do you think is a misconception people have about bush pilots?

That we’re daredevils. In reality, we’re just doing a challenging job in a rugged environment as safely as possible.

What is the most dangerous situation you’ve had to deal with?

Thunderstorms in the area.

How do you deal with thunderstorms?

Give them a wide berth. Stay on the ground if you’re not already flying. If caught in a severe downdraft, pitch up and add full power to climb out of it or at least maintain your altitude.

What are some of your other favorite destinations for bush flying?

Dry Bay, Alaska. I had to fly there recently to pick up some river rafters from the Yukon. I also enjoy flying to the Yukon mining camps at Casino and Hyland.

What advice do you have for aspiring bush pilots?

When doing flight training, don’t spread it out too much. You’ll get rusty and end up spending more money to stay proficient. Try to save up money and then get it done as quickly as possible.

Don’t do it for the money. It has to be something that you love and are passionate about.

Click here to read more of my posts about the Yukon.